Liquidambar tree, Fremont

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of liquidambar tree characterized by being truly evergreen. The leaves fall during their second year after the new year&#39;s leafy growth has emerged.

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of liquidambartree. The proposed variety name is "Fremont." The new variety is theresult of a selection from a seedling block noticed and carefullyobserved since its germination in 1966, substantially as hereindescribed.

The new variety of liquidambar tree was first observed in a seedlingblock where four different Liquidambar trees of three differing species,Liquidambar styraciflua, Liquidambar orientalis, and Liquidambarformosana, had been planted. The trees were purposely hybridized, theseed was permitted to drop, and the dropped seeds eventually germinated.Upon careful observation of these seedlings I noticed seven of themwhich appeared to be evergreen; that is, they retained their leavesthroughout the year. All of the seven have been disposed of except forthe new variety described below and for which a patent is being sought.The exact parentage of and species of the new variety are unknown. Thenew variety has been asexually reproduced at my direction at a nurseryin Fremont, Calif. from cuttings from the mother tree.

The main distinguishing feature of the new variety is that it isevergreen. The leaves of the new variety drop when they are fullymature, during the course of the following year, rather than the fall ofthe first year as do all other liquidambars. The leaves drop throughoutthe year, having disappeared under a canopy of fresh new growth from thecurrent year, thus giving the new variety its special evergreencharacteristic. In 35 years of careful observation of liquidambars, thisis the only truly evergreen liquidambar tree which I have ever noticed.

FIG. 1 is a close-up view showing the leaves re-greening.

FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves.

FIG. 3 shows new shoots emerging at the stem axials of leaves as viewedfrom the underside of the leaves.

FIG. 4 shows new shoots as viewed from the upper side of the leaves.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a two year old liquidambar tree of the newvariety.

The following description of this new liquidambar cultivar is inaccordance with the Exotica Horticultural Color Guide published byRoehrs Company of Rutherford, N.J., 7th Edition 1974.

The leaves, as shown in FIG. 1, of the new variety are large and aresimilar to L. styraciflua. The leaves are from 16 to 20 cm (6 to 8inches) in length, with petiole length an additional 8 cm (3 inches),and are 20-25 cm (8 to 10 inches) in width. The leaves are basically5-lobed with younger more vigorously growing stock having larger anddeeper lobes to the leaves.

During summer the leaves are a deep rich green (#70 ivy green to #77forest green (blackish shade)) in color.

During the winter the color of the upper surface of the leaves for about95% of the foliage is between #42 maroon and #56 grape violet (blackishshade), while the lower surface of the leaves remains the deep richgreen of summer, FIG. 2. However, where the lower surface is exposed toclear winter sunlight it takes on the rich color of the upper surface.This is shown in FIG. 3. The upper surface of the leaves return to theirdeep rich green color during spring. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a close-up viewof the new spring shoots breaking at the stem axils. The leaves shown inFIG. 4 remain in their full fall and winter color.

Some leaves turn #10 chrome yellow to #12 burnt orange to #28 cardinalred throughout the year, and drop off while the rest of the tree is afull deep green (#70 ivy green) color. A few leaves (approximately 2% ofthe foliage) turn to #27 dark blood red to #34 dark wine red before theyare shed.

Flowers and fruit are the same as other liquidambars, although the treedoes not seem to fruit heavily at all. The mother tree, 16 years old,bears very little fruit.

The height of the new variety is comparable to standard liquidambars inattaining approximately 50-80 feet in height. A two year old liquidambarof the new variety, shown in FIG. 5, is about six feet tall.

Trunk is #71 grey green, relatively smooth with a few irregularly spacedtubercles approximately 1 mm in diameter. This plant does not have theheavy corkiness seen on other Liquidambars.

I claim:
 1. The new and distinct variety of liquidambar tree described,illustrated and identified by the characteristics enumerated above.